God's invitation to freedom and blessing is extended to each of us, and it is our choice to open the door of our hearts and let Him in, experiencing love, goodness, and joy.
Good morning, church! Today, we have the immense privilege of diving into God's Word and exploring a passage that highlights His invitation to freedom and the subsequent blessing that comes with it. We'll be looking at Revelation 3:20, and I am excited to share with you how this verse speaks to each of our lives.
Before we dive in, let me share with you a quote from C.S. Lewis, "Free will, though it makes evil possible, is also the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having." What a compelling thought - that our ability to choose is the very thing that makes love, goodness, and joy possible in our lives!
With that in mind, let's read Revelation 3:20 together:
"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me."
What a beautiful picture of God's invitation to each one of us - He stands at the door of our hearts, knocking, and waiting for us to open up and let Him in. The choice is ours to make, and that choosing to invite God into our lives brings with it the incredible blessing of freedom.
Let's pray together as we begin to explore this passage:
Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word, which is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. As we delve into Revelation today, we ask that you open our hearts and minds to receive the truth you have for us. Help us to understand the depth of your love and the freedom that comes when we choose to open the door and let you in. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Now, let's take a closer look at this passage and the invitation to freedom that God so graciously extends to each of us.
In Revelation 3:20, we see Jesus standing at the door of our hearts, knocking and waiting for us to open up and let Him in. God does not force Himself upon us, but rather, He patiently and lovingly waits for us to choose Him. This respect for our free will is a testament to the depth of God's love for us, as He desires a genuine relationship with each one of us, not one that is forced or coerced.
This freedom is not merely a one-time decision, but rather, it is an ongoing journey of choosing to walk with God daily. This journey begins with the initial decision to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, but it continues as we choose to surrender our will to His and follow Him in every aspect of our lives.
Scripture tells us that "if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36). This freedom from sin is not just a promise for the future, but it is a reality that we can experience in the here and now. As we choose to follow Jesus and allow Him to transform our hearts and minds, we find that the power of sin is broken in our lives, and we are able to walk in the freedom that God desires for us.
As we choose to trust in God and His promises, we are able to experience a peace that surpasses all understanding. Scripture reminds us that "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-discipline" (2 Timothy 1:7). As we choose to walk in the freedom that God offers, we find that our fears and anxieties are replaced with a deep sense of trust in His goodness and faithfulness.
As we choose to follow Jesus and walk in the freedom He offers, we are able to extend that same freedom to those around us. This means that we can choose to forgive others, just as we have been forgiven, and we can choose to love others, just as we have been loved. This freedom in our relationships allows us to experience the fullness of life that God intends for us, as we are no longer held back by bitterness, resentment, or unforgiveness.
As we choose to walk in the freedom that comes from a relationship with Jesus, we find that our lives take on a greater sense of meaning and purpose. Scripture tells us that "we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:10). As we embrace the freedom that God offers, we are able to step into the unique calling and purpose that He has for our lives, and we are able to make a lasting impact in the world around us.
Choosing to walk in the freedom that God offers requires us to continually surrender our will to His and to trust in His goodness, even when circumstances are difficult or uncertain. This can be a challenging process, as it often requires us to let go of our own desires and plans in order to embrace the plans that God has for us. However, as we choose to walk in this freedom, we find that the blessings and joy that come from a life surrendered to God far outweigh any temporary discomfort or difficulty that we may experience.
As we consider this invitation to freedom, it's also important to recognize that this freedom is not something that we can achieve on our own. It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit at work within us that we are able to walk in the freedom that God offers. As we choose to open the door of our hearts and invite Jesus in, we are filled with the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to live a life of freedom and victory.
Pastor, here would be a good place to share a personal story about experiencing God’s freedom.
As we choose to embrace this freedom, we experience the blessings of freedom from sin, freedom from fear, freedom in our relationships, and a greater sense of purpose and calling in our lives.
It is important to understand that God does not force Himself upon us, but rather, He patiently and lovingly waits for us to open the door of our hearts and invite Him in ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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